Cho Oyu

Cho Oyu is the world's sixth highest mountain and considered to be the easiest of the fourteen 8,000m peaks.

As with all ascents at high altitude, the climbing is strenuous and a high standard of fitness is required, but as a peak to experience the thin air at 8,000m for the first time, Cho Oyu is ideal. Many of our expedition members use the experience gained here as a 'stepping stone' to Everest - or climb it as their ‘once only’ 8,000m goal.

Our Cho Oyu expedition itinerary has been tailored to include a visit to the city of Lhasa, the heart of Tibetan culture. Here we explore the Potala Palace and other cultural sites while acclimatising for the journey ahead. We then travel overland to the base of the mountain followed by a short walk to Base Camp.

The climbing route links features devoid of undue hazard with only a few short technical sections, yet the ascent path is direct, allowing climbers to gain altitude without covering a lot of distance.

Adventure Consultants is renowned for the quality of its service and strategy applied to high altitude expedition climbing. Our reputation is attributed to meticulous planning and experienced logistics coordination. We have a philosophy of investing in every expedition to offer our climbers the best possible chance of success.

We employ strong and specialised Expedition leaders and Sherpa staff, who are some of the most pre-eminent in the industry. We pride ourselves on operating with small teams, the best back-up and support available. This includes nutritious and ample quantities of food, comfortable base camp facilities, reliable communications systems and the necessary medical back up.

Many of our expedition members come to us because they have seen us in action on a previous trip and decide to opt for our level of service and proven experience. Others return because they know we do our very best to make expeditions safe and successful.

All expedition staff, including western guides at 1:4 ratio and Sherpa support

All food after departing Chengdu and before arriving in Kathmandu

All supplies necessary to make a safe and strong bid for the summit

Medical kit

Regular written and photo internet dispatches for families and friends to follow your progress

dZi Foundation support for their “revitalize a village” programme – likely to include support for a Nepalese child’s education for a year.

Exclusions

The price of your trip does not include:

Air travel to Chengdu and from Nepal, and airport taxes

Entry visa for China and Nepal

Hotel accommodation and meals in Chengdu and Kathmandu

Purchases of bottled water while on the approach trek, gifts, alcohol (we supply boiled water for drinking)

Any costs associated with early departure from the expedition

Personal clothing and equipment

Personal travel / trip cancellation / rescue insurance

Gratuities

Account Information

All payments should be made by bank transfer to the following bank and account:

Bank of New ZealandOffshore BranchWellingtonNew Zealand

for the account of

Adventure Consultants Limited

Account #: 1000-594771-0000Swift Address: BKNZNZ22

Note: All bank transfer charges are for the remitter's account.

We can accept your deposit and balance payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) plus a transaction charge of 3%.

Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of US$2,000 is payable to secure a place on the expedition.

Balance

The balance is payable 90 days prior to trip start date.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Once you have paid your deposit your trip is confirmed, subject to payment of the balance of fees owing 90 days prior to your trip commencement date. An expedition member may then cancel his/her participation on the following basis:

Cancellations outside of 90 days will result in the loss of the trip deposit.

For cancellations made within 89 - 60 days of the trip commencement date we reserve the right to retain 50% of the balance payment fee.

For cancellations within 59 days of the departure date a cancellation fee of 100% of the full fee applies.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Team members should take out private insurance if they wish to be covered against cancellation due to medical or personal reasons. This is called trip cancellation insurance and can be obtained from your normal travel agent.

The team will have a maximum size of 12 members and 3 guides. A team of between 3 and 6 climbing Sherpas will carry loads and support the summit climb and we will have a cook at Base Camp.

We get a wide range of experience levels and nationalities on our trips and the expeditions are geared to accommodate this. People without a lot of high altitude experience often experience trepidation about their performance before a trip and the only way to find out how you will perform is by going to altitude. Increasingly we find that accomplished high altitude climbers are using our services so they can concentrate on their sponsorships rather than private expedition organising.

We recommend to aspiring high altitude climbers that the best approach is to climb gradually higher peaks throughout your career so you can adjust to the requirements of altitude. However, anyone who is a strong and active mountaineer will most probably experience few problems at altitude under our supervision.

Our Guides

The expedition leader will be scheduled approximately six months out from the trip start. All of our trip leaders to the 8000m peaks have extensive experience at high altitude and a proven record of safety, success and compatibility.

Based in Lake Hawea, New Zealand our NZ Chief Guide, Dean Staples, leads both international expeditions and New Zealand trips. A multi-talented IFMGA guide with over two decades of guiding experience, Dean is a super friendly guy, with great patience and leadership skills.

Among a multitude of climbing achievements Dean currently shares the record for Everest summits by a kiwi, with a total of 9 summits and as lead guide on our 2013 Everest Expedition, he achieved a double summit of Everest and then Lhotse in just over 24 hours. Other 8,000m summits include Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Shishapangma.

Summiting Everest initially with Adventure Consultants in 1992, Ang Dorjee has moved on to achieve 19 summits of Everest and 28 ascents of 8000m peaks! His skills as a climber are legendary and he brings both a wealth of mountaineering knowledge and a unique cultural insight to your Himalayan expedition.

Head Office Support Team

Running successful journeys and expeditions is more about experience, knowledge and strategic management than any other factors. As an organisation, we place a substantial amount of time and resources into ensuring our trips are well planned and supported. You can be assured that the AC staff will provide you with friendly advice and knowledgeable support throughout the planning stages of your trip and we will be there to provide backup while the trip is running.

Amelia has been with Adventure Consultants since October 2017 in the role of Client Liaison for European and Himalayan Operations. Having spent many years working in the ski industry, Amelia brings a wealth of experience to her role.

Your Health

Expedition members will be provided with pre-trip medical advice and a medical questionnaire and asked to visit their family physician to receive a full medical examination. This information will be sighted only by the expedition leader and our medical adviser and treated with full confidentiality.

Level of Experience Required

There is no definite measure for assessing the required skill level to climb Cho Oyu so we prefer to discuss this on an individual basis. However, there are some broad guidelines that can be applied from the outset.

A successful team member will have been visiting the mountains for at least three seasons and made ascents of peaks up to 18-20,000 feet (5,500 - 6,000m). It is quite common for members to have previously climbed Mt McKinley in Alaska, Aconcagua in South America, or various Mexican volcanoes as training for Cho Oyu.

He/she will be familiar with crevasse travel techniques and have a good overall standard of fitness. See our Fitness Training Programs for details on how you can best prepare for the challenge.

Age itself is no barrier. To date we have succeeded on Himalayan trips with members aged from 22 to 65 years of age.

A fierce determination and a burning desire to climb the mountain are essential prerequisites for this expedition. The guides and other expedition staff will provide the leadership, tactics and overall decision making required during the climb, but still you will have to physically put one foot in front of the other to climb to the top and back.

Difficulty Rating

Each of our trips is individually rated according to its physical and technical difficulty, displayed in the icons towards the top of each trip page. You can click on the accompanying question mark for additional descriptions and the full run-down of our grading system is available on our Difficulty Ratings page.

History

Cho Oyu translates to the “Goddess of Turquoise”. The first to attempt to climb Cho Oyu’s 8201m summit was by well-known adventurers; Eric Shipton, Edmund Hillary and George Lowe as part of the British Everest reconnaissance expedition of 1952. They managed to climb to 6800m where they were stopped by an ice cliff. This same cliff is now fixed with rope.

In 1954, a small Austrian group organised a minimally equipped expedition to again attempt Cho Oyu. Herbert Tichy, Helmut Heuberger, Sepp Joechler, Pasang Dawa Lama Sherpa and Fritz Wiessner operated the expedition with an additional six Sherpas and 36 Porters. On October 19th Tichy, Joechler and Pasang reached the summit although Tichy suffered severe frostbite on his hands. It was the first expedition to follow the monsoon season and the route they took over the Nangpa La (pass) is no longer passable (except for local yak herders and Tibetan traders) due to its sensitive border location.

Food

Our Base Camp equipment and ample, nutritious meals are always the envy of other groups on the mountain!

AC will import western food for the expedition and supplement this with fresh and dried Nepalese and Tibetan products. Our expeditions are renowned for the quality of the food and the expertise of the cooks. We bring a variety of foods and snack foods to cater to most tastes however if you have a favourite snack food / treat for the trekking days or high on the mountain, you may wish to bring some with you.

We highly recommend reading Mark Twight’s book, Extreme Alpinism – Climbing Light, Fast and High for ideas about nutrition for mountaineering (as well as a myriad of advice on training and mental fortitude etc.)

It is a good idea to try out different snacks, energy bars and gels during your training. It can be difficult to stomach certain foods at high altitude so finding something that suits you is very important. Once you find what works for you we suggest you bring a supply with you to supplement the snacks that we provide.

Clothing & Equipment

Expedition members will be sent a list detailing all necessary clothing and equipment to be individually provided.

Base Camp Facilities

You will have your own tent at Base Camp (BC) and our Sherpa staff will help you get settled in. Most mornings, with the arrival of the sun you will be served bed-tea; a nice touch, which our Sherpa pride themselves in. Please bring soap, shampoo, shavers, a towel, hand sanitiser and ‘wet wipes’ etc. Showers are only occasionally available at BC during times when the Sherpa are not too busy in the kitchen. Please do not expect to shower on a daily basis! In addition, there will be access to hot water for you to do a small amount of clothes washing.

The tents in Base Camp consist of the following:

Mess tent: with sufficient tables and padded chairs for the group to eat in.

We have audio speakers into which you can plug your ipod, tablet or phone, please feel free to contribute your preference in music. Otherwise you will be subjected to your guide’s choice of music! We also treat ourselves to the occasional movie night.

The expedition commences from Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province. From there we travel by plane to Lhasa where we are met by the staff from the Tibetan Mountaineering Association. There is time for some sightseeing in Lhasa, and we begin to acclimatise since Lhasa is at a height of 3,540m. We then transfer to vehicles for the journey overland to the mountain. We stop for a few nights along the way to assist acclimatisation as the vehicles ultimately take us to 4,800 metres. From the road’s end a two-day trek, with yaks carrying the luggage, leads us to the base camp at 5,650 metres. This is a spectacular spot set across from the famous Nangpa La pass.

The route to Camp One follows the moraine up the main glacier and turns off to the east up a tributary glacier after a two-hour hike. After a steep climb up the scree and snow we are led to the camp at 6,400 metres. We also use a Camp 1.5 at 6,700m.

From Camp One, the route follows a moderate snow and ice ridge before leading through a small ice serac and out onto a broad plateau. Camp Two is situated at 7,000 metres in a ‘football field’ looking up at the summit region.

From Camp Two, a 30 degree snow climb leads directly up to Camp Three at 7,400 metres.

The summit climb from Camp Three will take around 12 hours return for most members and involves climbing through a short rock band just above the top camp before heading into an open couloir, which in turn leads to the summit plateau.

Experience tells us that a high degree of Sherpa support, coupled with maximum oxygen flow rates, greatly increases the rate of success for our team members. With this option, you receive oxygen at a higher flow rate on climbing days allowing you to completely focus on summitting. The results speak for themselves. With the ‘Max Ox’ option, climbers have reported having better energy levels, a better appetite, more warmth, a higher degree of strength and greater enjoyment on summit day than those without. They also enjoy a higher rate of success!

Additional Sherpa Support

We offer a service giving members the option to have their gear carried on ‘camp moving’ days, so all you have to carry is your jacket and water bottle and items required for the day. This option is popular with those who have difficulty recovering after a carrying a heavy load at altitude.

Personal Sherpa

This option provides you with the assistance of a very experienced and dedicated Sherpa who will support you for the duration of the expedition above Base Camp. Your Personal Sherpa will climb with you each day while you are climbing on the mountain as your climbing partner and generally assist you throughout the expedition all the way to the summit. When on the mountain, you would share a tent with your Personal Sherpa and he would supervise cooking duties. Our Sherpa guides are very experienced with multiple ascents of Everest and other high peaks under their belts, and are friendly and supportive companions along the way!

Finally you can combine these options to give Max OX and Additional Sherpa support in one package at a favourable price. We feel that the results speak for themselves. Climbers who once may have had issues recovering from heavy load carrying, in time for a summit attempt, are now able to experience an enjoyable and rewarding summit day.

You may also like to talk to us about other options such as personal communication systems, or the provision of a personal tent on the mountain.

Adventure Consultants recommends the following travel insurance and rescue insurance options, although this is only just a start! Once you book on a trip with AC, your Client Liaison will help you by sending through advice on your options;

Travel insurance

Trip interruption

Trip cancellation

Medical Evacuation and Rescue Insurance

RIPCORD RESCUE TRAVEL INSURANCE

RipCord is the leading medical evacuation program offering elite evacuation and rescue services. With their new partnership with TravelEx, they can also now provide the benefits of a traditional travel insurance product with their just released, RipCord Rescue Travel Insurance™. This is specifically designed for the adventure enthusiast with unique trip cancellation/interruption, medical expense, sporting equipment and other coverage benefits to protect your financial investment.

RipCord is powered by Redpoint Resolutions, an elite team of special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliate physicians, paramedics, nurses, former intelligence officers and other medical/security experts comprising the most experienced team in the industry. They will rescue you from the field wherever your emergency occurs and evacuate you to your home country hospital of choice.

RipCord rescues you from the field if you have an emergent medical condition that will result in significant permanent injury and/or death, but does not require hospitalisation.

RipCord are proud to partner with Adventure Consultants to provide RipCord’s industry leading rescue, evacuation and travel insurance coverage to its clients.

Adventure Consultants can also assist with purchasing polar cover for Antarctic expeditions and if interested in this, please contact RipCord directly for a specialised quote.

GLOBAL RESCUE MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Adventure Consultants also recommends the rescue evacuation and security membership/services provided by Global Rescue, which provides transport from the point of illness/injury back to your home countries hospital of your choice. TotalCare provides real-time access to medical information and coming soon, this includes urgent card and speciality consultations from some of the world’s health physicians at the Elite Medical Group and John Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

Recently Global Rescue has released a new travel insurance product, the Signature Travel Insurance option. This has no height limitation and gives comprehensive cover for trip cancellation/interruption, medical and dental expenses, delays, lost luggage as well as optional add-ons to ‘cancel or interrupt for any reason. This is currently only available to US Residents.

Click here to find out more about this insurance cover which covers climbing and is thus suitable for many of our expeditions.

Please note you will be emailed a set of Reference Notes upon registration. This extensive booklet includes detailed information to assist in the planning of your trip, from travel and medical advice to equipment lists and photography tips.

How long have Adventure Consultants been in operation?Adventure Consultants started in 1990 and we have been guiding internationally ever since. You can read more about AC's history here.

A few outfitters claim to have the same level of experience and prestige as Adventure Consultants. In this league, what makes you the first choice for your climbers?We are renowned for the quality of service and strategy applied to our expeditions. Our reputation is attributed to the meticulous planning and logistics coordination done by our head office. Nowhere else will you find a team of people more dedicated to your success! From when you first contact the AC office to the time you step on the mountain, our customer service is second to none. The AC team of guides and Sherpas will ensure that this expedition is run to our high standards and will be an enjoyable expedition with a great group of people.

What sort of hotels do we stay at in the cities?In Chengdu we will stay at a comfortable, centrally located, four star hotel. Should you arrive early there is much to see. The city dates back to the 4th century BC and is full of historic sites, cultural artefacts and is renowned for it's local Sichuan cuisine. Let's also not forget it is home the Giant Panda Breeding Centre! For our return in Kathmandu, we stay at the Radisson Hotel, which features a rooftop swimming pool and on-site dining. Ideally located in Lazimpat, the hotel is adjacent to the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and is within walking distance of popular attractions including Durbar Marg and Thamel.

Will I be sharing a tent or room with other climbers? Is there a single room option on this trip?We generally book you into a single room in the hotel in Kathmandu and twin-share in Chengdu, Lhasa and any lodges on the trek into Base Camp. You will have your own tent at Base Camp but on the mountain you will be sharing a tent with others. A single supplement is available so please contact our office for further details.

What showers and laundry facilities will be available on the expedition?We offer shower facilities on all our 8,000m expeditions and these will be made available as often as possible, either at the lodges or at your Base Camp. We advise people to bring wet wipes for impromptu washes in between available showers. It is also possible to hand wash clothes at Base Camp between climbing cycles.

What food will be available?If you have any special treats that you like, we encourage you to bring some along. You’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, as well as ample hot and cold drinks. Please indicate any specific dietary requirements on your application form and we are happy to accommodate you. All of our expeditions provide excellent local and Western food! On the mountain, we usually have a wide variety of MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) which are significantly tastier than freeze dried meals, as they are real food vacuum-sealed and ready to heat and eat.

We work really hard to make sure our food is second to none and our food is rated so highly that our guides are frequently seen chasing guides and clients from other expeditions out of our mess tents!

Do I need to arrive the day before the trip starts? And when should I book my flight to leave?No, our programmes all have an arrival day and a departure day built into them. You are welcome, and encouraged, to arrive a bit earlier to explore your arrival and departure cities if you have the time. Before your expedition you will receive a “final details” email. This will let you know the time and place to meet your guides. An AC representative will meet you at the airport and the first of many team briefings will take place on the evening of Day One. Please do not book to depart before the final scheduled itinerary day.

What is the best way to get to China?Regular flights operate into Chengdu via Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

What is the best way to leave Nepal? Thai Airways fly directly from Kathmandu to Bangkok once a day. Silk Air (Singapore Airlines) has flights to Singapore three times a week and there are flights available to Doha, Delhi and Hong Kong. Many airlines fly directly to North America, Europe and Australia/NZ from these destinations.

My travel agent says I can just get an ‘e’ ticket (electronic ticket) and will not need to be actually issued a physical ticket.'E' tickets are the standard practice these days and are now acceptable in most locations. Do ensure that you print your itinerary and have your booking number with you, as this allows our local agents to assist with changing your return flight plans if necessary while you are in the mountains.

When should I book my ticket?Generally, we ask you to wait until 90 days prior to your trip start date to ensure that your trip has met the minimum numbers and will operate. If you see a good deal and want to book your flights earlier, then ensure that you can make changes to your tickets or you run the risk of losing them if we do have to cancel the trip.

Do you have a recommended list of clothing we should bring?Once we have received your application we will email out your Reference Notes which include detailed equipment lists. Any questions you have after reading through this can be directed to our Equipment Coordinator who can assist by recommending and sourcing a range of suitable clothing and equipment via our gear retail service.

Do I really need all the equipment on the equipment list?Yes, these lists have been carefully prepared so please bring everything on the list!

Can I bring food and other gear not on the list?Absolutely! Most members of our expeditions end up bringing "the kitchen sink!" We encourage you to bring some of your favourite goodies and tech toys, as Base Camp will become our home for four weeks. The more comfortable you are, the more energy you wil have for the climb, so every little thing helps!

How heavy will my pack be?We will have the luxury of a strong Sherpa team that will carry team equipment, food and oxygen on the mountain. Whilst there are some instances where the Sherpa may take a couple of small items for you to the next camp, this is only occasional and you are expected to carry your personal gear. This is achieved by taking small amounts of your gear to the higher camps each time you go, however there are times when you must carry all your personal gear at one time making for a fairly heavy load. When you put all your gear into a pack it still amounts to between 18-25kg/40-55lbs so the load is not insignificant and you must come prepared for the high level of physical output. This reinforces the need to take just the right amount of equipment with you on the mountain and to ensure you are ‘pack fit’ before you arrive on the expedition.

Given the large amount of equipment that I need to bring, can I send freight ahead?Sending your equipment ahead by freight is not as easy as it sounds. The costs can be considerable with expensive clearance and duty fees, and time delays getting your gear out of customs. We advise against it, but if considering it, please contact us to discuss the process and associated costs.

How warm do we need our sleeping bags to be? Will there be extra blankets available if required?This will be clearly stated in your recommended gear list. Blankets are generally not available so pay careful attention to the bags we recommend. We suggest buying a sleeping bag big enough to allow you to wear extra clothes in if it is especially cold. Sleeping in a warm hat can greatly improve a bag's warmth.

What altitude medication will be available on the expedition? Do we need to take tablets before/during the expedition?All our guides carry extensive medical kits including Diamox, Dexamethasone, Nifedipine and Sildenafil for altitude illness. You need to bring any medications you regularly use (don’t forget to tell us about them), plus extras. Also, bring a small first aid kit including a blister kit and mild headache medication for the normal altitude headaches.

What sort of O2 masks do you use?We use Summit and Topout masks plus regulators for all our Sherpas, guides and climbers.

What is the oxygen bottle size?We use 4 litre Poisk bottles, which are the lightest available at 3.5kg/8lbs each.

What is Max OX? How does it work?The Max OX option is simple and in this era of better O2 systems, we wanted to offer our team members every possible advantage to summit. The Max OX option allows you to climb on a higher bottled oxygen flow rate, thus increasing your chance of success.

Who goes on your trips?Our climbers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, countries and skill levels. From those seeking skill development to those seeking assistance with the world's highest mountains or purely adventure, we provide courses, expeditions, treks and guided ascents for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.

Can I contact other climbers or guides for this expedition?Yes, we encourage that. Perhaps there is someone in your area that can become a training partner, perhaps they can help you source some hard to find gear. The bottom line is that it’s a good idea to have some contact with the folks that you will share this experience with. We respect the privacy of each team member and check with each person before releasing any contact details.

How many guides/Sherpas will be assigned to our group?A ratio of climbers to Western guides is stated on each trip’s web page in the downloadable ‘Trip Notes’. Sherpa guides are assigned depending on the size of the group and type of expedition.

How much should I tip my guide staff? What about the Sherpa staff?This is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from US$20 to US$10,000 for an 8,000m expedition. It is worth remembering that you will have a high degree of contact with some of the Sherpa staff, while others will be working away in the background providing necessary services to keep the expedition running and therefore we feel it is appropriate to include them in the tipping pool.

Can my friends and family join me on the trek into Base Camp?This is possible on some of our expeditions so please do enquire directly with the Adventure Consultants office.

I would like to arrange a private trip, is this possible?We are happy to arrange a private group trip and we have run many successful private trips and expeditions including summits of 8,000m peaks such as Gasherbrum 2 and Kanchenjunga, all of the Seven Summits and remote destinations such as Antarctica. Some clients enjoy the added privacy and schedule flexibility that a private expedition allows, so you can hike and climb at your own pace and enjoy the mountains on your own terms. There is no specific group size, but obviously larger groups are more cost-effective. Please contact the office for more information or visit our Private Customised Expeditions page.

What kind of physical condition should I be in for a climb at high altitude?You should be in the best shape of your life! We invite you to check out our Fitness Training Page page and recommend visiting your physician before embarking on strenuous physical activity. For our high altitude expeditions, you should be comfortable walking for 5-9 hours with a weighted pack, although summit days on some peaks can be over 20 hours long! Pack weight can be 18-25kg/40-55lbs on carry days, but only 5-7kg/11-15lbs on summit day and on the trek in. Working out every day with long hikes with a weighted pack on the weekends is generally a good realistic training programme. Day by day the challenges are different, but the more prepared you are, both mentally and physically, the smoother your trip will go.

How long is a typical day on the mountain?It depends on the day and your level of acclimatisation. At the beginning of the trip, everything seems slower and longer, but as you get more adjusted to the mountain, the days go quicker. Average days can be 5-10 hours long. Summit day can be up to 20 hours long.

How do you train for a trip like this?Our standard response to this question is that you become a climber first, and everything else during this portion of your life comes second. This is the level of dedication to your training, both mental and physical, that you need to have. We have specific ideas around training and great book suggestions to help you along. Please look over our Fitness Training Page for details. If you require more information please contact our office and we will be happy to put you in touch with one of our senior guides for a consultation and we can also link you with our training coach to design a training programme for you.

How do I know this is the right trip for me?We offer trips to suit all levels of ability and ambition, from your first mountain experience to extreme ascents and everything in between. To help you navigate the choices available, our trips are graded by both the level of physical exertion and the level of skill required, allowing you to find your perfect expedition match. These ratings are displayed in the icons at the top of each expedition page, with a further explanation available by clicking on the accompanying question mark. A full run-down of the categories can be found on our Difficulty Ratings page and our team is more than happy to discuss your experience to find the right trip for you.

Will there be any power source for charging batteries and electronic equipment throughout the expedition? What voltage requirements?We take solar panels and battery power packs on our expeditions. Our first priority is to charge our computers, satellite phones and expedition electrical equipment. There is usually enough power to then charge your personal electrical equipment. If your equipment has a cigarette lighter charger, bring that and you can plug it in to charge. We do NOT recommend bringing rechargeable digital cameras as they tend to run out when power is not available. Use cameras with replaceable batteries and we recommend lithium batteries. We can cater for special power requirements at an extra cost - please enquire with our office. Many of the lodges also have power available with typical Asian plug sockets (two horizontal prongs) and offer battery charging for a small fee.

Will there be any access to a satellite phone? If so, what are the charges for usage?Yes, most of our expedition guides take satellite phones and you are welcome to use these at US$3 to $4 per minute.

I want to contact my friend or relative, who is on one of your trips, how can I reach them?Most of our expeditions send daily internet dispatches, and we receive updates from our guides while they are in the field. The best place to reach a loved one is through our office.

What weather report service do you use?We receive comprehensive weather forecasts from our Swiss meteorologists which enable us to plan our ascent around favourable weather. Additional meteorological interpretation is provided by veteran high altitude guides through our head office in New Zealand and helps manage the decision-making process.

What insurance do we need to get?We require you to have insurance for any personal or medical mishaps may occur during the expedition. This should include cover for illness, medical emergency and/or evacuation. We also highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy to provide cover for trip interruption or cancellation, baggage loss, damage or theft, delayed flights or other such incidents that may occur during your trip. Please contact us for expedition insurance advice or visit our insurance webpage here.

Do I need evacuation insurance? Yes, it is very important. Many of our expeditions are in remote places with no roads and developing medical services. In the unlikely event that you get sick, you want to get to good medical care ASAP.

Who do you recommend for insurance? Coverage varies based on your nationality. When you have booked on for a trip with us, we will send you comprehensive information on various insurance options which will serve as a good starting point.

What is trip cancellation insurance? Trip cancellation insurance is an option that may allow you to cancel your trip without expenses already paid. Adventure Consultants highly recommends trip cancellation insurance. If circumstances cause us to cancel a trip (minimum numbers are not reached or travel to a country becomes too dangerous) then we will refund your fees paid but trip cancellation insurance covers your airfare and any other costs you may have incurred.

Can I pay by credit card? We can accept both the trip deposit and balance payment on credit card. Please note that there is a 3% fee for all card transactions. Please contact our office or visit our secure online payment system page.

What is included in the cost of my trip? Does it include airfare? You can find information on expedition inclusions and exclusions in the 'Payment Conditions' section above. International airfares are not included in the trip price, but we can recommend excellent travel agents with whom we have worked should you require help with arranging your airfare.

How much should I budget for this expedition? In addition to staff gratuities, you will also need to take funds for the likes of laundry, bottled water, alcohol, showers and any other sundry purchases that you may make.

Why are you sometimes more expensive than other operators?Many of our trips are very similar in price to our competitors. Some companies even wait for us to set our prices and use ours as a guideline! Some of our main selling points, which sometimes do cost more, are internationally qualified Western guides, proven dependable local operators, small group sizes and safe client-to-guide ratios, quality equipment and high summit success rates, among other things. You do get what you pay for which is why we stand out from the rest. Many clients come to us after failing on one of our competitors ‘cheaper’ trips.

How do I sign up for a trip?The best way to reserve your space on the expedition is to contact our office or complete our online booking form (click 'Book Now' below). Your deposit can be submitted by bank transfer (please see 'Payment Details' in the 'Payment Conditions' section above) or via our secure online payment system.

I love the photographs in your brochure and on your website, are they for sale?Yes, our images are available for licensing or purchase. Please contact our office for further information.

What is the best equipment for photography in Alpine environments?There is an extensive section in our Reference Notes, which are sent out on receipt of your trip registration form and deposit, explaining about photography in the mountains.

Remember photos are wonderful records of your expedition but keep camera gear simple and light to best enjoy the trip you are on. Disposable and digital cameras are the lightest weight, but all cameras have maintenance issues that need to be carefully considered before bringing them to high elevations.

What about the Maoists in Nepal?The Maoist problem which partly crippled the economy of Nepal for the a decade garnered major international interest. The Maoists have now formed part of the Nepalese government and there is a comprehensive peace agreement in place so we hope the troubles of the past are put behind the Nepalese people. Our sources in Nepal keep us up to date with the political situation and if there are significant changes we will be sure to advise you.

I want to become a mountain guide, where do I start?Those with limited experience generally start by taking an alpine climbing course and then go out and climb for a few years. You generally should have at least 5 years of climbing and/or teaching/guiding experience. You need avalanche and medical training and then you can apply to do a NZ Mountain Guides Course or the equivalent in your country, aligned with the IFMGA. Check the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association web pages for a complete description.

My fourth trip with AC and this was the best yet. The extra cost up front is an investment repaid by quality people, logistics, facilities, food, experience, program and process. If you ever hear I have gone with someone else... it is not me.
Cho Oyu

Dale West

Australia

I thought it was a great trip and from my observations, our trip was better organized than some of the other groups we met on the mountain.
Cho Oyu, 2016

Kai Zinn

USA

Absolutely plan on using AC again.
Eiger Ascent, 2017

Colin Christensen

USA

Not often does the food pick up when you leave a hotel and move into tents!
Cho Oyu Expedition